The core ticket for the Wulingyuan scenic area, which includes Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, is CNY 236 on the official site if you want the in-park shuttle bus. It is valid for 4 consecutive days and does not cover cable cars or elevators, which you buy separately, for example the Bailong Elevator at CNY 65 one way. The figure agrees with Sina Travel's range of CNY 228 to 239, while the CNY 224 to 227 on Wikivoyage is an older price. This page records what the official site said when we read it on 16 October 2026. On 17 October 2026 the site (hnzjj.com) refused our connections from two different tools, so we could not re-check it on the day; treat the figures as 16 October readings and confirm before you buy.
The overview of the city is in the Zhangjiajie guide. Entry rules for China are on the China hub.
Verified details
| Item | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Ticket with shuttle bus | Full CNY 236, discount CNY 119, valid 4 consecutive days | Official Wulingyuan site (ticket page) |
| Ticket only | Full CNY 165, discount CNY 83, valid 4 days, excludes shuttle bus, cable cars and elevators | Official site |
| Annual pass | CNY 310 a year, includes shuttle bus, valid one year | Official site |
| Insurance | CNY 3, optional | Official site |
| Entrances | 5 gates: East (Wujiayu), South (national forest park), West (Yangjiajie), North (Tianzishan) and Central (Zimugang) | Official site |
| Shuttle bus | Included in the larger ticket, runs 07:00 to 19:00. Prices adjusted under a notice effective 1 Jan 2026. Help line when buses are scarce: 0744-5555555 | Official site (getting around page) |
| Bailong Elevator | One way, full CNY 65, discount CNY 33. 326 m high, 335 m rise, 3 m/s, 50 people a car. Opened April 2002 | Official site |
| Huangshizhai cable car | One way, full CNY 65, discount CNY 33. 973 m long, 430 m rise, open since 1997 | Official site |
| Online booking | WeChat mini-program (transliterated "Zhangjiajie e Chu You"). For bookings more than 10 days ahead, contact the ticket management centre on 0744-5718833 | Official site |
| Free entry | Under 14, age 65 and over, and others under the notice. Free for the ticket only, not for shuttle, cable car or elevator. Show ID | Official site |
The site itself notes that the prices and entitlements it lists are the 2024 to 2025 policy assessed by the development and reform commission, and tells readers to go by the latest notice at the ticket windows. We did not see the notice at the windows on the day.
Other sources that disagree
| Source | What it says | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Wikivoyage, Wulingyuan chapter | Ticket CNY 227 (the city chapter says CNY 224). Hours 07:00 to 18:00 from 1 Mar to 30 Nov (entry until 16:00) and 08:00 to 17:00 from 1 Dec to end Feb | Wiki, not official; its two pages disagree with each other |
| Travel China Guide | Admission CNY 165, or CNY 224 with the eco-bus | Benchmark, older than the official CNY 236 |
| Sina Travel, 12 Oct 2026 | Core area CNY 228 to 239 including the bus | Media, not official |
| Official site, ticket page | CNY 236 with the bus | Our primary source |
The official pages we could open do not state the park's own opening hours. The only official hours are the shuttle bus times of 07:00 to 19:00, so we cannot confirm the park hours. Wikivoyage's seasonal hours above are a guide only. Check at the gate.
What is in the park
The official site says Zhangjiajie National Forest Park covers 130 square kilometres, was China's first national forest park and has six subareas: Huangshizhai, Pipaxi, Jinbianxi (Golden Whip Stream), Yaozizhai, Shedaogou and Yuanjiajie.
Huangshizhai. The official site calls it the best-known spot in the park. The summit is a plateau at 1,080 m with a cable car up. Wikivoyage suggests a summit loop of about 100 minutes.
Avatar Hallelujah Mountain. The official site says the pillar "Southern Sky Column" was renamed Avatar Hallelujah Mountain on 25 January 2010 and says it was the model for the floating mountains in the film. The official page does not give clear walking directions, and we did not check whether the name is signed in the park, so ask for directions or use the park map.
Golden Whip Stream (Jinbianxi). Wikivoyage describes a flat walk of about 4 km along a valley, ending at the Bailong Elevator to the plateau.
Bailong Elevator. The official site says construction began in September 1999 and it opened in April 2002. At 326 m it is listed by Guinness as the tallest and fastest outdoor lift in the world. Wikivoyage warns of long queues at busy times and shorter ones after about 16:00.
Tianzishan and Yangjiajie. The official site treats these as separate zones of the same core area, each with its own cable car. The Yangjiajie cable car is about 1,876 m long horizontally with a 517 m rise. We did not check the fares of these two cable cars.
Elevator and cable cars
The site says the Bailong Elevator has three cars running side by side, 50 people each, carrying about 4,000 an hour when all three run. It also says the elevator was expanded in 2013. One way is CNY 65, the Huangshizhai cable car is CNY 65 one way, and the main ticket excludes both, so you buy them in addition, in the official mini-program as the site states. Riding or hiking up is a matter of taste. We have no queue-time data.
Sample route
Our suggestion, based on the Wikivoyage example (not an official timetable): on day one enter the national forest park early, take the cable car to Huangshizhai, walk Golden Whip Stream and finish with the Bailong Elevator. Day two, Yangjiajie and Yuanjiajie. Later days, Tianzishan. The official 4-day ticket runs continuously, so you do not need to rush it all into one day.
Preparing
The official site warns that mountain weather changes fast and mornings and evenings differ a lot. Bring a warm layer, an umbrella or rain jacket, non-slip shoes and a little food. Wikivoyage adds that food in the park is limited and expensive, so carry water and snacks, and that entry requires real-name registration by face or by ID card or passport. Carry the real passport.
Stay nearby
If you plan two or more days in the park, staying in Wulingyuan town saves the trip from Yongding. See where to stay in Zhangjiajie. For the Tianmen Mountain day, see the Tianmen Mountain page, and for the whole region the Zhangjiajie guide.
How this page compares
We read Travel China Guide's Wulingyuan page and China Highlights' Zhangjiajie guide on 17 October 2026. Travel China Guide shows an older price pair (CNY 165 and CNY 224) and neither benchmark separates the lift and cable car fares from the main ticket or warns that the official site's price notice is a 2024 to 2025 policy. This page gives the official CNY 236 and CNY 165, the CNY 65 lift and cable car prices, the entrances and the 4-day validity, and keeps conflicting figures in a separate table.
Links on this page and our earnings
The buttons on this page open the providers' search pages. As of 17 October 2026 we have no registered affiliate link for Zhangjiajie and earn nothing from them yet. We do not compare prices. The official channel is the main way to buy the park ticket, while tickets from other sellers may be tour packages with different prices and terms.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park ticket?
The official Wulingyuan site lists CNY 236 with the in-park shuttle bus and CNY 165 as a ticket only, valid 4 consecutive days and excluding cable cars and elevators. Prices can change under notices, so confirm on an official channel before you buy.
Where can I buy tickets?
The official channels on the site are the WeChat mini-program and the ticket windows. There are five entrances.
What do I need to enter the park?
Wikivoyage says entry needs real-name registration by face or ID or passport. The official page we could read does not mention it, so bring the original passport.
Is the Bailong Elevator included?
No. The official site says the main ticket excludes cable cars and elevators. The Bailong Elevator is CNY 65 one way (CNY 33 discount).
What are the opening hours?
The official pages we could read do not give the park's hours. The shuttle runs 07:00 to 19:00. Wikivoyage lists seasonal hours, but it is unofficial, so check at the gate.
How long should I spend in the park?
The official ticket is valid for 4 days. We suggest at least 2 days for Huangshizhai, Golden Whip Stream, the Bailong Elevator, Yangjiajie and Yuanjiajie.
Where is the Avatar mountain?
The official site says the pillar "Southern Sky Column" was renamed Avatar Hallelujah Mountain on 25 January 2010 and was said to be the model for the film. Ask for directions at a gate or use the park map.
See also
Official sources and further reading
- Wulingyuan official tourism site: core area ticket
- Wulingyuan official tourism site: bookable tickets list
- Wulingyuan official tourism site: Bailong Elevator ticket
- Wulingyuan official tourism site: Huangshizhai cable car ticket
- Wulingyuan official tourism site: national forest park
- Wulingyuan official tourism site: getting around the scenic area
- Wikivoyage: Wulingyuan (older prices and hours; not official)
- Wikivoyage: Zhangjiajie (source of the sample route)
- Sina Travel, 12 Oct 2026 (media, not official)
- Travel China Guide: Wulingyuan (benchmark, read 17 Oct 2026)
- China Highlights: Zhangjiajie Travel Guide (benchmark, read 17 Oct 2026)
Prices, schedules and entry rules change. Figures here are approximate as of 2026; always confirm on the official or operator page before you book. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.
